XXXIII Here is told a tale of Messer Imberal del Balzo
Edward Storer translation
And so Messer Imberal, riding one day with his company, was taking great care to avoid these birds, for he feared to encounter an augury. He found a woman on his path, and asked her and said: tell me, good woman, whether you have this morning found or seen any birds such as crows, ravens or magpies.
And often was this tale told in Provence, because of the novel reply which that woman had inadvertently given.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · En Barral, or Sire Barral, lord of the noble house of Balzo in Provence. He was a lover of letters, philosophy and the arcane arts. ↑Note 2 · The famous philosopher, reputed the founder of mathematics, was not born in Spain but in Samos. This is another of the numerous instances ofNote 3 · Imberal expects her to say towards which of the cardinal points the bird’s tail was turned. ↑Note 4 · And the woman answered: Sir, I saw a crow on the trunk of a willow tree. Now tell me, woman, in what direction was it holding its tail? And